About the Program

The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to supporting veterans and providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who could benefit from a companion animal.

The Pets… 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. These animals can make excellent companion animals but never have that chance. Our dedicated animal trainers will evaluate and rescue the shelter animals and provide additional training to ensure that they are able to assimilate into a home, which is quite different from a shelter environment.

The Vets… Sadly, there are alarming statistics of suicide, family abuse and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder facing veterans returning to civilian life after military duty. This can cause a downward spiral of apathy, unemployment, broken relationships, addiction and depression. It is our belief that companion animals can be the life saving therapy or friend that many returning service men and women need.

Medical studies have shown that companion animals significantly improve mental and physical health, including reducing stress, depression and anxiety, symptoms experienced by many serving in the military.

How does it work?

The Pets for Vets team interviews each veteran to ascertain what he or she is looking for in a companion animal; we pair this with his or her personality and lifestyle to make the perfect veteran-pet match. Once the perfect pet is selected for the veteran, the pet spends time in the home of one of our trainers who teaches the pet basic obedience and other valuable behaviors needed to live with his/her new owner. This can include becoming comfortable with wheel chairs or behaviors needed to help with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Who is Eligible?

Veterans who have a condition that could benefit from a trained companion animal and who are able to care for a pet, are eligible to receive a Pets for Vets companion animal.

Pets for Vets is pleased to participate in the recent issue of Animal Law Magazine. In addition to the digital edition, the print version was inserted in the newspaper, The Legal Intelligencer, on November 18, 2014. We thank everyone at the Legal Intelligencer who helped make this happen.

CNN Headline News

We thank CNN for the wonderful opportunity they gave us on November 9, 2014 to share with their audience about Pets for Vets. We are pleased to have been included in their Veteran’s Day coverage about the benefits of having a pet.

We thank the people who have found interesting and creative ways to raise money for and/or awareness of Pets for Vets. Read their stories here.

Shelter Chapters

We are pleased to announce the introduction of “shelter chapters”. A “shelter chapter” is a Pets for Vets chapter offered as a program through an existing animal shelter. If you wish to learn more, please complete the Contact form and select “To learn more about starting a chapter in an animal shelter”.

People Magazine

We thank People Magazine for featuring Pets for Vets own Adam and Rakassan in their "Amazing Animals of 2014" segment. Look for the issue with “Amazing Pets” in the lower right corner on the cover. Read the article here.